Manhattan Federal Judge Margaret Garnett made a crucial ruling on Friday (January 30th) that overturned the most serious federal-level murder and firearm charges against Luigi Mangione, thereby eliminating the possibility of him being sentenced to death at the federal level. The federal prosecutors have until February 27th to decide whether to appeal.
According to the written ruling released by the judge on Friday morning, Mangione still faces two federal-level stalking charges, each carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole. However, the judge decided to dismiss the murder and firearm-related charges with the “sole purpose of excluding the death penalty”.
The case stems from a shocking shooting incident that occurred in midtown Manhattan in December 2024. Federal prosecutors alleged that Mangione shot Brian Thompson outside a hotel, who was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a major American insurance company. The case has garnered high attention from the business and political realms.
In addition to the federal case, Mangione also faces state-level murder charges in Manhattan. He has pleaded not guilty to all federal and state charges.
It is worth noting that the case has also sparked intense political debates. President Trump has repeatedly advocated for the federal Department of Justice to actively seek the death penalty in cases involving serious violent crimes, especially those that have caused societal shock. It is widely interpreted that the Mangione case may become one of the representative cases for the federal prosecutors seeking a death penalty verdict.
However, Judge Garnett clearly stated this time that the purpose of dismissing the most serious charges is to eliminate the legal basis for applying the death penalty, shifting the focus of the case back to the determination of whether the crimes constitute a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
Currently, the case will continue to progress simultaneously in federal and New York state courts, with the final sentencing still pending.